Apparatuses and methods for removing defective energy storage cells from an energy storage array

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for removing a defective energy storage cell from an energy storage array is described. An apparatus includes an energy storage array including a plurality of energy storage cells, and a cell removal circuit coupled to the energy storage array. The cell removal circuit is configured to prevent a defective energy storage cell of the plurality of energy storage cells from causing other energy storage cells of the plurality of energy storage cells to become defective. A method includes receiving power at a charging node of an energy storage array, the energy storage array including a plurality of energy storage cells. Responsive to failure of an energy storage cell of the plurality of energy storage cells, current is provided through the defective energy storage cell, and responsive to the defective energy storage cell becoming an open circuit, discontinuing provision of the current through the defective energy storage cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 an energy storage array including a plurality of energy storage cells, each of the energy storage cells including a sacrificial component; and 
 a cell removal circuit configured to disconnect a defective energy storage cell from the plurality of energy storage cells by providing current through the defective energy cell responsive to failure of the defective energy storage cell to blow the sacrificial component of the defective energy storage cell and thereby cause the defective energy storage cell to become an open circuit. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial component comprises a fuse. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , an energy storage cell of the plurality of energy storage cells comprises a capacitor, a battery, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an array of memory configured to store data, and the energy storage array and the cell removal circuit are included in a power control circuit configured to provide power to the array of memory. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus, comprising:
 an energy storage array including a plurality of energy storage cells; and 
 a cell removal circuit including a plurality of zener diodes, the cell removal circuit configured to disconnect a defective energy storage cell from the plurality of energy storage cells by causing the defective energy cell to become an open circuit, wherein a zener diode of the plurality of zener diodes is coupled in parallel with a respective row of the energy storage array, wherein a path configured to provide current through the defective energy storage cell includes at least one of the plurality of zener diodes. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the cell removal circuit further comprises a plurality of buffers wherein a buffer of the plurality of buffers is coupled to a row of the energy storage array that includes the defective energy storage cell, wherein a buffer of the plurality of buffers is configured to provide additional current to the defective energy storage element.